Patrick Rucker scores 19 points in second half to get Thornton past Leo

With his team struggling to generate offense, Thornton senior Patrick Rucker knew it was time to step up.

That's exacty what the 6-foot guard did Monday against Leo. Rucker scored 19 of his game-high 22 points in the second half to lead Thornton to a 63-54 win over Leo in a Big Dipper 43 quarterfinal game.

Sam Taylor III added 13 points and Orlando Allen had 11 for the Wildcats (7-1), who shot 20-for-52 from the floor.

Thornton will play in the Big Dipper semifinals at 7 p.m. Tuesday against Lincoln-Way Central (8-1).

"Patrick didn't start out like he normally does, but he picked us up big time," Thornton coach Tail Streets said. "We couldn't score for a while. He came through."

After trailing by as 13 points in the second quarter, Leo (11-3) caught fire and cut Thornton's lead to 32-29 with 3:54 to go in the third quarter.

That's when Rucker came to the rescue, scoring 10 points during a 12-4 spurt that stretched the Wildcats' lead to 44-33.

"I told coach I was going off," Rucker said. "Everyone was off with their shot. I know I'm a senior and I had to really step up. I was in the zone."

A version of this article appeared in print on December 29, 2015, in the Sports section of the Chicago Tribune with the headline "PATRICK'S DAY - Senior scores 19 of game-high 22 in second half to lift Thornton past Leo - Boys Basketball big dipper tournament" —
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